Republican senators are losing patience with embattled Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, but they stopped short of calling for him to resign this week after new revelations about questionable decisions he has made.

Several Republican senators voiced concerns about Pruitt’s conduct, even as they praised the policy agenda he is spearheading. And they are carefully avoiding the question of whether he ought to step down, leaving that decision to President Trump and his administration.

The Senate, which is responsible for confirming Cabinet secretaries, barely tilts Republican, 51-49. With Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) home battling a serious form of brain cancer, even one defection during key votes means party leaders need a Democrat to cross over to confirm a Cabinet nominee. The prospect of another big confirmation battle would represent a new complication for Republicans as the midterm election draws near.

“Well, it’s not helpful to be sure, but the administrator serves at the pleasure of the president, and the Congress really doesn’t have a role once confirmation occurs,” said Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.), the second-ranking Republican senator, of Pruitt’s behavior.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said, “We like the work he’s doing as the administrator, but, naturally, all of the different issues that continue to pop up with regard to personal activities and so forth begin to wear a person down in the job they are doing.”

But asked whether Pruitt should step down, Rounds said, “At this stage of the game, that’s up to the president.”

The Washington Post and other news outlets have published reports this week detailing new evidence of Pruitt’s controversial management and resignations from his team.

Sean SullivanSean Sullivan has covered national politics for The Washington Post since 2012. He previously was the editor of Hotline On Call, National Journal Hotline’s politics blog, and has also worked for NHK Japan Public Broadcasting and ABC News. Follow

Seung Min KimSeung Min Kim is a White House reporter for The Washington Post, covering the Trump administration through the lens of Capitol Hill. Before joining The Washington Post in 2018, she spent more than eight years at Politico, primarily covering the Senate and immigration policy. Follow